[Diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas and astrocytomas using magnetic resonance imaging: analysis of 15 cases].

Objective: To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas(INSE) and astrocytomas.

Methods: Retrospective analyses of the MRI images were conducted in 15 cases of INSE and 10 cases of astrocytoma.

Results: MRI appearances were similar in the 2 types of neoplasms, both showing enlargement of the involved spinal cord segments, low signal and blurred boundary on T1-weighted imaging, and high signal on T2-weighted imaging.

MRI diagnosis of embryonal tumors in the spinal canal: analysis of 6 cases.

Objective: To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features characterizing embryonal tumors in the spinal canal.

Methods: Retrospective analyses of the MR images were conducted in 6 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed embryonal tumors in the spinal canal.

Results: Epidermoid cysts in 3 cases displayed a variety of non-characteristic signal intensity patterns on T1- and T2-weighted images (T1WI and T2WI).